Dienstag, 30. August 2011

All in one

So its been a while since I last updated this thing, and a lot has happened. By a lot I mean nothing important. I got a letter from the police, got a bank account, went to Berlin, got a ticket on the tram, school, and finally i went to my first Rotary meeting.

This letter from the police scared me because its a letter from the cops. and when its in german, its even more scary because you don't know what it says. well, I thought I was being fined for like, not crossing the road at a crosswalk (which actually is illegal), or sneezing, or some outrageous thing. But worse of all, I thought I was going to jail. Which I wasn't. I gave the letter to Oma (my host grandmother) and she laughed because the letter said I got what is like a social security number for me. Even though I'm only staying in the country for a year.

I got a bank account finally. I can get mulla when ever I want, which is awesome of course because I get the feeling of independence. Which I get already.

I finally made it to Berlin! I went to Potsdamer Platz, which is close to the Brandenburger Tor, and the German Parliament. But right next to the Bahnhof, is the Sony Center (which was built in Mt. Fuji's image). And the Berliner Mauer, which is one of the walls in Berlin. I think it was in between the actual Berlin wall, but I'm unclear. However, the Center is so huge, and very open. It has a big white, tent shaped dome, probably representing the summit of Mt. Fuji. Inside is basically a film museum, and about three movie theaters. And of course a four story sony store. I spent a good half hour there in the center exploring. Then, I made a go for the Brandenburger Tor and the Parliament building. As I went forth, I stumbled upon one of the many Holocaust memorials. It was much like Inception. Im not kidding, but I'll try to get pictures up somehow. Anyway, the memorial was blocks of stone, or concrete, and they went from the ground, to about 15 ft high? Well, some were very tall and grey, which made it look like Inception. And underneath was a museum. Apart from meandering my way through that endless maze of grey blocks, I made it to the Brandenburger Tor, and the Parliament building. The only interesting part of the Parliament building was the giant glass dome. Otherwise, it was boring on the outside. The Brandenburger Tor, however, was interesting. Hilko, my host brother, told me that it held the 12 trials of Hercules, by telling their stories. Those were all stone carvings that I didn't bother to decipher. It also represents victory, as does many other structures in the area. I had a quick look around, then I left.


I take back my statement about the tram being free. Its not. and I, being the dummkopf that I usually am, I was unaware that my bus pass was also my tram pass. So, I got ticketed and now I have to pay 40 euro, BUT, I can still prove that I have a ticket so I only 7 euro. Within 14 days that is.

School is school. but for the past week and a half, I've had spanish class. And wow it gives me a head ache to figure out when the teacher is speaking German, then Spanish and both sometimes. Its difficult. For me at least. There is a girl in my class that is managing Turkish, German, English, Spanish, French and I think one more. So I don't have it that bad. But I answered a problem in math! Its a beginning.

Today I attended my first Rotary meeting. I was greeted by my councilor and he spoke perfect english, was excited that I was here, introduced me to fellow Rotarians, stuff like that. Overall, he is very chill. The meeting was fun, enjoyable. It was the same atmosphere as the Rockport Rotary Club. That was comforting.

Well, that is pretty much it, uhhh I cant think of anything else right now, so I am probably going to be that person that says "I will write soon," but that soon turns into a month two.

So yeah, I'll write soon!

Donnerstag, 18. August 2011

I get it.

first off, after a week in school, (which still is entirely in giberish to me exept english class) i finally understand how the schedule works and the buildings work. accually the bulidings dont matter, but the schedule does. so. there is on each 11th and 12th grade schedule, the courses that each pupil chose. they are put into a set schedule. so its totaly not what im used to back in Rockport where the blocks are slot machines changing on me in a random order everyday. so. we start with the blocks:
there are 5, hour and a half long blocks each day. and the block depends on the week. there is A week, and B week. in this mess are the courses: there are two intensive courses that are what you want to do after school and university. the student has them 5 times in a 2 week period and usually appear in the morning blocks. they are like honors level classes. then come the ground courses, which are just regular paced courses. they are 3 and sometimes 4 times in a two week period. the courses i have are phyics, geography, maths, spanish, history (which sadly isnt all U.S so im most deffinetly am going to have to take a summer course), computer science, which is......not worth explaining because it doesnt make sence to me. why? because its all about programs and systems, which i have never learned about. then art, german, and then sport. and in order to get a grade in sport, it depends on how fast you run, how far you run, partisapation in a game, or in my case how far you can throw a shotput.
so there are the classes, but what if you have no class. that means that you have a free block! and can go anywhere you like. and by that, i mean on or off campus. you can go home, go to the mall, the supermarket, random fruit stand, anywhere. then get back in time for class. and luckily i have one in the morning every week, and one every two weeks. so can get my sleep.

second, the trams are fun, free of charge, and you can get anywhere on them.



Montag, 15. August 2011

The First Day

so on the first day of school its suppose to be easy and an introduction to the year and so on. and there will be surprises. well, today was full of surprises. ones that i was expecting, and some were very unexpected. for example, i walk into my first class, which was english, and the teacher was speaking in both german and english, which i expected. then, (and oh yeah, in between every class i have a 30 min break. so ha ha) i went to my second class which was math. and for those who do not know me well, math is deffenety NOT my strong point.

so i sit down, say hello to my teacher, and wait. then class begins and i see before me a sheet of paper with a graph. within the graph were 2 parabellas and a slope line. then the teacher started speaking,  " vwierjgb weifh weifuh iwu fgiwuhe fgiuhw eiufg hspiur herh gpwuer gpwuerhg aewrpö gohse räoöigh sdföo ghöe rog weö roh gpw euoi goöuer hgpw eurz gp woeur ofzg pwoer zpeufz weguh wefu wegpqewrz poqwraweroug soöfu oiudfsuefhpisuhd r....." or at least thats what i heard. and i sat there with my mouth wide open thinking to myself, what planet am i on? and i copyed everything down not knowing if it was nessasry or not. and worst of all, the teachers handwriting was horrible. i mean it was basically all the coast-lines in the world but somehow words.

that is an example of an unexpected surprise. so always expect for the unexpected. especially in a foregin school.

Samstag, 13. August 2011

School

yes, i will be now starting the long difficult road of German school. on Monday, which is in 2 days, i will be traveling by bus, train, legs to get there. and every weekday following it. my school is in Potsdam, and is one of the many schools there. it is double the size of Rockport High and it has 4 floors and looks like a giant H.

how students find where they have their classes, is what i think is difficult (obviously) is by the number on the classroom door. oh, and each floor has it´s own subject. so one floor has science, one has maths, one has language, and so on. so back to the doors. the first numeral is what floor it is. so 1. then the next one is a mystery to me, and then the last numeral is numbers 1-8. i still dont get it.


 and the schedule. oh, my god it is a nightmare. im not going to explain it. maybe when i know how to understand it, then ill explain. or not.

Sonntag, 7. August 2011

Potsdam!

        I`ve finally traveled to Potsdam! I thought the city was small, but it is sehr groß! my legs by the end of my time spent there, I could barely stand! (I thought I would miss my ride back home) Aber, das Stadt ist sehr schön. I started off at the Hofbahnhof Potsdam (head train station of Potsdam) and saw Nikolai-Kirche. The inside was very huge and empty, but very interesting. I then embarked on an uncharted mission, even though i had a map, to find the Park Sanssouci. After purchasing Schokolade Eis it was so good!), I walked through what looked like the Triumphal Arch and found the park. Inside was a maze, but i found my way to a magnificent Schloss. Schloss Sanssouci, one of the 13 castles in Potsdam. A great fountain below, and the Schloss over looking it. The steps up were like the ones in Rocky, there were so many! but i had a look around, and made my way back.
         The one thing that I saw and thought was so amazing, is that everyone uses a bike. And I mean, EVERYONE - young to very old. And at outside seating at a restaraunt, people put their coasters on top of their drinks (very clever).
      

Samstag, 6. August 2011

i have arrived!

it was hard saying goodbye, but i made it! all the way to Germany! i boarded the plane with much excitment and waited for the long trip to begin. with every turbulence bump, i thought back to the Lost series. and i hoped i wouldnt end up in the middle of the Atlantic. but i landed safety in Madrid, and that airport is one of the largest i have ever seen, and ever walked. my gate, of course, had to be at the very end of the airport. had to have been a mile long walk. i arrived in berlin droopy and exhausted, but greeted with a warm hug! Der essen ist sehr gut und ich schreibe in morgens!